Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-20


We of the great world are not strictly !
speaking q &C ific people. We are slow |
to recognize our great thinkers on every |
subject, unless the results OF their en-
desvors ere put before Us in the most !
popular manner. Every one knows or
ought to know that the most eminent OF |
our poets, scientists, inventors and |
thinkers were fist brought to the atten2 !
ton Of the world by other people than )
ourselves. We are so busy in our rush |
after the almighty dollar that we are in
clined to undervalue the work Of men |
who have come from our midst. 1t is |
doubtless 70 our discredit. but it is never
theless true, that we do not appreciate our
truly great men until their names have
been echoed to Us from across the sea.
Things we value least in this great coun-
try of ours, are most thought of on the
other side of the herring pond. We are
nothing if not practical and We put the
discovered truth TO some practical use,
though we are apt to forget its protector
in thinking of the results. But we are on
the right road efter all. The characteris-
tic American question, "Is there any
money in it," touches the keynote of
the cause OF our wonderful progress. A
great rule discovered is much in ITSELF
but the results Of it are greater.
Spencer 7. Baird is one Of the men who
have made the name of the republic in
| the scientific Ci:cles of the old world, but
he has perhaps done q greater work in
his own country in populariZing science.
His name and his works are known in
every scientific society the world over.
! He is native of Pennsylvania, and claims
/ the beautiful little CITY Of Carlisle, that
! slumbers so peacefully in the matchless
/ Cumberland valley, IS his home. In $40
1 he graduated from Dickinson college, as
did also his elder brother William. The
two boys inherited from their father g
love Of nature and out-of-dOOr pur-
suits, and IS esrly as 1926, they
had made q collection of the game
birds of Cumberland country. In the
museum some OF these specimens
mounted forty years ago are still pre-
served. The inheritance of love Of ns-
ture and taste for the study OF natural
history was encouraged by the mother,
and for the tive years succeeding his
graduation the young naturalist Was left
TO his own devices and plans, instead OF
being a. once pushed into profession.
When but eighteen years of age he made
8 pedestrian excursion through the noun
talns OF Pennsylvania, walking 400 miles
in twentY-One days, making the last day
sixty miles between daylight and rest.
He has al MS life been great walker,
and in ell his expeditions he has never
ridden horse. Until Il few years ago,
every summer found him among
the trees, or at the sea shore, OF
on the rivers and creeks. For forty years
re nag been q tiTeless collector of natural
history specimens, and he turns it 81
over to the institute. One Of his rules Is
that no officer or employe Of the institu.
, ton shall make g private collection. Fol
: q short time he was professor Ot natural
sciences 81 Dickinson college, and here
he taught the seniors IN physiology, tins
sophomOres geometry and the freshmen
in geology. He found time, however, t
, carry on the work begun in previou:
years and during the vacation he made
extended tours. One year be walked
over 22J0 miles. On Ieaving home he
came to Washington 70 live, and since
$50, or nearly thIrtY-seven years, he ha;
: been connected with the Smithsonian In
sIitute For the last nine years, or sine,
, the death Of Professor Henry in 1875, h
: mas had entire executive control OF TIT
wonderful establishment. He has seen
, grow from few small boxes of specimen
to its present splendid proportions, ant
j., in its building up he mas had always
!, prominent part.
Bat we must so down to the Professor
workshop. You will find it in the base
: ment, and truly it is busy place. Their
4 IS not much furniture in the room, but l
; IS all in use by the busy occupant. Her
-, are couple Of clerks and q steno
: grapher, and scattered round about, We
. in the most perfect order, are book
. and maps and drawings and casting!
, and models OF every description. Tn
Il Professor is 6 great worker and h
utiiiZes every moment Of the day. II
. arises at and by O'Clock he has had III
breakfast snd is at MS desk. For five hour
every morning he keeps the stenographe
=; busy attending TO correspondence an
: writing out report, instructions, letter
, and scientific articles. This part Of hi
y work can De done by no one else. By
= O'Clock he has flushed, and leaving hi
;. stenographer 10 prepare the papers 70
~ his signature, he leaves the residence 70
the institute. Here, for two or tire
y hours, he receives callers and attends {
e the routine work Of his ofi ;e. He is ais
u the head of the fish commission, snd b
49,. gives lual al uOuI OF LNO ShCu Gay. bu
g this and many other things with which b
is connected does not come properl
within the province OF this article.
, Professor Baird is essentially worke
- When one has written Of his work moth
&c ing remains 10 be told. He retires al
y O'Clock and rises at sn early hour. Il
ie never goes to q lecture or the theate
q and the dinners and receptions he attenC
a ha \
= fingers on one hand. He gives it out
I confidence that the first reason that 4
- doesn't 60 out is that he knows he vi
~ 60 to sleep, and the second is that
iss doesn't want TO, but prefers staying
~ home with his books. What does he {
IL with his leisure time? Well, he h
- precious little of that delightful Commoc
Ie ty, and what little he has is spent in res
nc ing novels strange to relate of the bloC
&c and thunder order.